Fuel vaporizer



W. J. LINN FUEL VAPORIZER May 29, 1945.

Filed Aug. 12, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l i3 1 Id INVENTOR. BY W494 ma. llzfornrlr May 29, 1945. w. J. LINN 2,377,038

FUEL VAPORIZER Filed Aug. 12, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 KHHHHHHHMM y o7/////// m m w m 2 Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEFUEL VAPORIZER William J. Linn, Pittsburgh, Pa 1 Application August 12,1943, Serial No. 498,399

f 5 Claims.

"L'his invention relates to improvements in Vaporizers especiallyadapted for use in connection-with'the carburetor of an internalcombustion engine and may be considered as an improvement of the typeshown for certain internal combustion engines in my application, SerialNo. 462,44=l','fi1ed'0ctober 17, 1942.

Thepr'imaryobject of the present invention relates to aldevice by meansof which the heavy particles orglobules issuing from the carburetermaybe morec'om'pletely vaporized. I

Another object of the invention is to improve the fuel mixturesubstantially throughout the various speed ranges of the engine andduring the idling thereof. 1 Yet another object of the present inventionis to' 'provide'a vaporizer which is adapted to be interposed betweenthe carbureter and intake manifold flanges without alterations andwithout requiring additional gaskets between the carburetor and theintake manifold, such as are usually placed there-between to provide atight joint. 1 i 1 "Still another object of the invention is to insertthe-device between the flanges of the carbureter and the intake manifoldin the minimum of time.

Another important object of the present invention is to" provide avaporizer with a plurality of concentrically disposed wells, havingwalls of minimum thickness and being adapted to receive all heavy fuels,completely vaporize the latter by convection and conduction of the heatfrom the manifold and deliver same through the throat of theventuri ofthe device and then to the firing chambers" of the cylinders of theengine.

Yet another'object of the invention is to provide a' -vaporizer with adeflector by means of which the vapors rising from the wells may becontrolled for additional vaporization.

A'further object ofthe invention is to provide the vaporizer, adjacentits upper edge, with a series of apertures of measured size to permit aportion of the rising vapors from the wells to be drawn into the venturiof the device to further improve'th'e vaporization of the fuel mixtureand to preservea constant velocity of the fuel mixturewhile passingthrough the venturi.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a vaporizer whichutilizes the heat from the intake manifold effectively, therebyeliminating interposed resistance coils or other auxiliary means forapplying heat to the heavy fuel as it passes through the intake manifoldof the engine.

sAnother important feature of the invention istouconsiderably improvethe distribution of the fuel mixture whereby each of the enginecylinders receives a substantially equal charge, quantitatively andualitatively.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device forre-atomizin heavy particles of fuel which may be produced as anauxiliary device or attachment, or as an integral part with thecarbureter or as an integral part with the intake manifold.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a re-atomizingdevice which, when installed,

will function efliciently in any internal combustion engine withoutadjustment or attention for the life of the engine.

The invention, therefore, aims to provide means which will under anycircumstance prevent the entry of condensed fuel into the intakemanifold and consequently to the cylinders of the engine, and inobtaining this important object, the invention is provide'd with acentrally disposed Venturi bore surrounded by a plurality of concentricannular wells capable of trapping all condensed fuels which usually moveradially and outwardly at the point of least restriction or lowvelocity.

' These trapped fuel condensations are revaporized by subjecting thesame to the heat from the intake manifold.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are contemplated whichwill become apparent in the following description read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming part of the disclosure in which:Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view through the assembledflanged ends of a carbureter and intake manifold as presently used andwithout my invention; the throttle of the carbureter being shown closedor in idling position. In this case, the flow of the fuel mixture isindicateddiagrammatically by the arrows and shows the unevenlydistributed fuel entering the intake manifold. Obviously, in suchcondition, the firing chambers of the cylinders receive an unequalamount of highly condensed fuel which dilutes the lubricant in thecrankcase and also' from the carbureter, which usually adhere to itsinner walls, are positively'trapped in a seriesiof. concentricallyarranged wells, as shown, and

heated to a boiling temperature by convection and conduction of the heatfrom the manifold which transforms the trapped condensed fuel into avaporized fuel which is then drawn through the throat of the Venturibore of the device and delivered in the proper form to the firingchambers of the cylinders.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the flanged ends of anassembled carbureter and intake manifoldwithout my device, the throttleof the carbureter being shown open for cruising or speeding and thearrows indicating diagrammatically the flow of the fuel mixture from thecarbureter to the intake manifold. In this case, the carbureter throttleactually deflects the heavy fuel to the rich side and the light fuelpasses into the lean side of the intake manifold, a condition asundesirable as described for Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows my vaporizer installed between the flanges of acarbureter and intake manifold, thethrottle valve of the carbureterbeing shown in the identical .position as the throttle valve shown inFigure 3. The arrows indicate diagrammatically the flow and equaldistribution of the fuel mixture, so that each engine cylinder willreceive an equal charge, quantitatively and qualitatively,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thedevice.

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of theassembled devicein which the knife-edged, annular flange is shownsubstantially midways of the outer wall of the device, it will be notedthat by doing thisan additional well is provided between the outer shellof the device and the inner-wall of the carbureter.

Figure 7 is a view similar-to Figure 6 with the exception that theknife-edged flange is shown flush with the bottom of the device, therebycreating an additional well of fulldepth.

Figure 8 represents a vertical cross-section of another modified form ofthe device in whicha plurality of concentric wells, .including the topor deflector portion of the device 'are'fcrmed'integrallywith theflanged end .of an intake manifold.

Figure 9 shows the device inserted into the flanged end of a carbureter,the knife-edged flange being eliminated.

Similar reference-characters are used to designate-similar partsthroughout .the several views.

As shown in Figures 2, 4 and5-of .the accompanying drawings, 1!: denotesthe. flanged 'endof a carbureterand 1-6 denotes the flanged end of anintake'manifold having interposed therebetween my improved vaporizer I1.

Referring now to Figure-5, the numeral'l8 indicates vertically disposed,annular concentric wells, the outer wall ISof which being provided withan outwardly extending horizontal annular flange of substantiallyknife-edge thickness'in order .to insert the device between said flangedends l5 and i6 and the gasket 2|, which is customarily interfposed toprevent leakage.

The inner shell 22, havinga Venturi bore 23, extends upwardly and isprovided at its-extended portion 24 with a V-shaped undercut-deflector25. A series of small fuelports 26:.of.theVenturi type extendtransversely through the neck-portion 2! of said inner shell 22, therebyestablishing communication-:fromthe annularpocket 2-8, which serves thefunction of.-a containeriforholding and receiving additional" dropsorcondensates of l nen-vaporized fuel should i the :wells .128 overflow. I

ill

The concentric partition 29 of the vaporizer shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5is made substantially lower than the other portions of the device so asto prevent closing of the wells should the gasket 2| be shiftedaccidentally while assembling and close the wells l8.

The operation of the above described device is as follows: During idlingconditions, that is when the throttle 38 is closed or nearly closed, thefuel mixture is charged through the aperture 3| in the wall 32 of thecarbureter and due tozthe poor directional distribution of the fuel onlya portion of the fuel mixture is properly vaporized and in thatcondition passes through the throat of the Venturi bore 23, while thebalance of the fuel in unvaporized condition passes into the wells H! ofthe device, thereby preventing the same from passing through the intakemanifold and reaching the firing chambers of the cylinders until allunvolatized particles of the fuel in the wells l8 become heated to ahigh degree of temperature, by convection and conduction from theheatedmanifold; thus, the liquefied fuels-become vaporized and are then drawnthrough the throat of the Venturi bore of the device and delivered tothe firing chambers of the cylinderszas-a greatly improved combustiblemixture. The series of transversely positioned holes 26, whichpenetratethrough the neck portion 21 of the inner shell-1.22, greatly facilitatethe rising vaporized fuel-from the wells to be additionally vaporizedand/mixed with the vaporized fuel issuing fromthecarbureter, thuscreating a greatly improved idling mixture.

Under normal operating or drivingcondition, the throttle 39 is more orless open, depending on the speed of the engine. In that case, the majorportion of the fuelchargeissues from-the carbureter nozzle 33, asdiagrammaticallytshown in Figure 4 of the drawings; otherwise,the-function of the invention is identical withtheaotion in conditionfor idling,

The modification shown in Figure 6 is similarto the .device shown. inFigures2, 4 and 5,-with.the exception that the location of .thehorizontally disposed, knife-edged flange :34 is changed to a positionabout mid-ways of the height :of .the outer shell 35. it will be noted,that this modiflcation provides an additional well 36 created betweenthe inner wall 3'! of the'flange-d carbureter end l5 and the outer face-38of the-outershell 35 of the device. I

Figure 7 illustrates another modification of. my invention. Inthisdesign the horizontally -disposed knife-edge flange 40 is shownin-alignment with the bottom 4| of the .device. The additional well 42,in this.case holdsrconsideb ably more liquefied fuel as the onepreviously described. i

In Figure 8 there is shown another-modification of the device in whichthe improved vaporizer 43 is shown integral with the flangaend of anintake manifold 44, otherwise thesaid vaporizer is substantially thesame structurally-end functionally as the ones prev-iousy described.

Figure 9 shows the vaporizer without .theiknifeedged flange and pressedinto position intora re-- cess 45 in the flange end 46 of ta carbureter.

While the invention has beendescribedzand illustrated-With a down-draftcarbureter, it :will be understood that the same conditions existrelatively with an up-draft carbureter.

In order to interpose either of the devioessshown in Figures 2, 4,,and-5 to 7 inclusiveiini-zexisting engines it is onlyrequired'to'zremove-cthe rboltsthe crank-case.

which secure the carbureter to the intake manifold, spread the flangesthereof sufficiently apart to permit the insertion of the inventionbetween their flanges. There is no need of changing the gasket, which isusually placed between the flanges and since no visible height is addedby insertion of the invention, due to the knife-edged flange of thedevice, the same bolts are replaced to secure the carbureter to theintake manifold. Such installation may be accomplished in less than fiveminutes.

' My device is in actual use on thousands of automobile and airplaneengines and I have clearly proved that with: the use of my improveddevice entirely eliminates burnt out valves, sticking valves, forming ofcarbon under the valve seats and spark plugs and dilution of thelubricant in Although I have shown and described the severalconstructions of my device, it will be understood that variations inconstruction and ar-. rangement, which are consistent with the appendedclaims, may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scopeof the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A vaporizer adapted to be interposed between a carbureter and anintake manifold come prising an inner shell and an outer shell having abottom common to both to form an annular well; a Venturi bore in saidinner shell; a horizontally disposed flange of razor-blade thinnessextending outwardly and formed integral with said outer shell;concentric partitions within said annular well dividing the latter intoa plurality of concentric annular wells adapted to receive fuel inliquid state issuing from the carbureter, said liquid fuel in the wellsadapted to be vaporized by convection and conduction of the heat fromsaid intake manifold and means to control the vaporized fuel rising fromsaid wells and direct same into the throat of said Venturi bore.

2.; A vaporizer of the character described comprising a flange end of anintake manifold provided with an integral Venturi tube extendingupwardly and beyond the face of said flange; a plurality of concentricannular wells surrounding said Venturi tube; the top portion of saidextended Venturi tube provided at the exterior thereof with an inverted,V-shaped'undercut neck portion, said neck portion provided with aplurality of radially arranged apertures.

3. A vaporizer of the character described comprising an inner shell andan outer shell, both having a common bottom to form an annular Well,concentric partitions within said well divid 'ing it into a plurality ofconcentric wells, said partitions being substantially of less heightthan said inner and outer shells; a Venturi bore in said inner shell;said inner shell extending upwardly and beyond the upper edge of saidouter shell, the extended portion provided with an outwardly widenedrounded top portion, the neck portion thereof being provided with aV-shaped undercut having a plurality of radially disposed apertures andmeans to secure the device.

4. A fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprising anannular inner shell having a Venturi bore and an annular outer shell,both shells provided with a common bottom to form an annular well andconcentric partitions within said well dividing the latter into aplurality of concentric annular wells.

5. A fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprising'anannular inner shell having a Venturi bore and an annular outer shell,both

